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Caerleon Visit

How do the types of material imported and produced locally differ in terms of their quality, quantity and workmanship?

There was a vast amount of material on display at the museum that came from a variety of different locations, whether produced locally, from other parts of Britain (large amounts from Scotland) or imported from other areas of Europe (noticeably Gaul). This was due to the nature of the Second Augustan legions involvement with the spread of the Roman Empire throughout this period, they were not simply a stationary garrison, they originated from Spain, then were marched from Strasbourg, Germany to help with the capture of Britain. The men knew how to make use of the natural resources they were surrounded by, this was reflected in the practicality of the objects produced from their locality. The fort of Isca was positioned strategically on the periphery of the river Usk, this provided alluvial clay, this was used to produce basic everyday items that the legionary required. There were many examples of this on display at the museum such as; field flasks, water jugs and a mould made for an oil lamp, they are simple in style and are clearly for practical use, as opposed to decorative. The legionary probably had their kilns based by the river, demonstrating a continuous need for this cheap, easy to produce material. The legion also had their own tilery, these too were produced originally by the men, then civilians took over the role. There was an ornamental tile for a gable with a Gorgens head, showing us the superstitious side of the legionary, it is supposed to attract evil spirits, therefor diverting them away from the people. It is a rather crude carving with no obvious formality of shape (this is excusable, it is after all a roof tile, in a position of poor visibility). There was also evidence that they imported from the rest of England, there is cooking equipment made from black burnished ware from Dorset, this too is very basic in style, but has more of a finished look than the clay pottery, it is of better quality and looks considerably sturdier than the clay- ware. The imported materials were of a more luxurious nature than the previous two, the Samian pottery comes from Gaul, it is a shiny deep red colour, depicting a hunting scene, this would not have been used everyday. Other imported materials ranged to basic amphoras filled with wine, to elaborately carved gemstones of a very high quality.

What sort of quality of life did the soldiers have?

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Their life, on a superficial level was basic, but a satisfactory existence. There are of course obvious differences between ranked men and the average legionary, but in theory they were fed, clothed, housed and entertained. This is not as generous as it seems, ad average soldier would be paid 00 denarii, and only be left with about 1, after he had deductions for; food, equipment, bedding, compulsory savings and his burial club contributions removed. They were superstitious, there is a leaden curse invoking the goddess Nemesis to punish someone for stealing a cloak and pair of boots, after all this would have been a serious crime considering the soldiers pay for their own equipment. The men ate well, we know the legion imported luxury foodstuffs from Spain and Italy including olive oil, figs, wine and dates. They ate fruits, meat (from legions own pastureland), vegetables and bread, even stamped with the centuries name (stamp bearing Century of Quintinius Aquila found). Personal hygiene was of importance, five thousand men living in such a small space (with up to 8 sharing a room) germs spread easily, they were aware of this and owned tweezers, earscoops, body scrapers made from shells and a bronze razor was found (also indicating regimented look in regards to facial hair). The amphitheatre (just outside the fortress walls) was a means of entertainment for the men, they would go there to watch blood sports and socialise. The men were not allowed to get married whilst in military service, but it was common for them to be in relationships with civilian women who lived outside the walls and have children to carry on the military tradition.

What role did local resources (material, labour) play in the construction and maintenance of the fort?

The original construction of the fort (c. AD 74/5) was built in timber, and not suprisingly there is very little evidence of its original form, before the end of the first century this began to rot away. The replacement buildings were built by the second Augustan Legion accompanied by skilled men. There is a piece of wooden tablet inscribed in ink, found in a officers house, regarding the collection of timber. Vast amounts of timber were needed (some thought to have been floated down the river from Us). Old Red Sandstone was used for general building work, and there are examples of Bath Stone, finer in quality than the former and used for decorative purposes. They used lead from the mines on the outskirts of Cardiff. Legionary blacksmiths made hinges, horse buckles and armour, remains of their workshops were found within the fortress. Throughout the forts life (spanning over 00 years) there was the necessity for ongoing maintenance work, and over a period of about thirty years it saw the replacement of timber with stone buildings, identifiable by the inscriptions they held (there is an Italian marble inscription in honour of the Emperor Trajan 100 AD placed on the south gate that had been strengthened during this period). Local materials were essential for the developments, this imported marble was very rare, there is a local sanstone inscription that records the rebuilding of the seventh cohorts barracks in 5. It was common for the soldiers to participate in the renovation of the fort, especially after they had been away for long periods. However in the third century there were inscriptions found recording work, yet during this time the legion played a large role in the Scotland expedition of 07/11. This is not substantial evidence to show the civilians participated heavily in the upkeep of the fort, because by 0 it was deemed wasteful to heat the fortress baths, maintenance work began to die down.

How integrated does the fort seem to be in short and long distance trade routes?

Short distance trading was essential for the upkeep of the men and the fort, this was more for everyday items. The fortress boosted the economy of the civilian settlement that surrounded it., what little money the soldiers had left they were encouraged to spend on crafts and food made by them. They also traded in leather with Welsh farmers, leather was used for tents, bags, and shield covers. Stone came from Dorset and Bath. These are essential items, their strong trade connections with the rest of the empire become apparent when looking at luxury items. They boosted the economy by persuading the men to want to eat nice foods and wine, buy gemstones and grafted glassware from Gaul.

Which type of artefacts seem to be most common in the archaeological record (judging by the material in the museum)?

It seems to be everyday items that have survived, the buildings w ere demolished, leaving foundations. Items that were of any real value would have been taken with them when they left, armour and fighting equipment are rare. However there is an abundance of cookware that would have been mass produced. Building stone is commonly found, it would be pointless transporting to the next settlement, unless it was particularly symbolic. There are gravestones that were from the cemeteries outside the walls, yet they had been turned over and re- used as paving slabs. Items that were of value had presumably been lost, 88 engraved gemstones were found in the fortress baths under a large drain, this is a very rare find, we only normally see discarded vases and lost coins.

What factors might have affected the survival and archaeological visibility of the material, e.g.. Pottery, foodstuffs, personal ornaments, we see today?

Firstly, being in Wales, one of the biggest factors affecting the survival of materials has to be the weather, primarily rain! This particularly affects perishable items such wood (as we have seen from the rotting of the original buildings), clothing, food and papers. Yet the pottery has survived rather well, as have the metal pieces such as silver coins, and small brooches, pins and other decorative items. A reason for the survival of the engravings was likely to be from the lack of respect they had been given after the Romans had left, turning them into the ground preserved their inscriptions. Much of the stone had been stolen during the medieval period, taking the buildings to below ground level.

How might the subsequent history of the fort have affected the archaeological record?

The fort became obsolete, Saxon pirates and Irish invaders had become a very real threat to the Romans, far greater than the Silures. The legion shrunk in size dramatically, some staying in Scotland, going to Gaul or moving to Cardiff to protect the Welsh waters. The fortress fell into a state of disrepair; buildings were left to crumble, what was left of them the medieval inhabitants scavenged; peoples personal possessions that had been forgotten or lost simply abandoned. So there is not a balanced, cross- section view of life there. If completely reliant on archaeological record, we would believe the fort to have been rather peaceful, when in reality there were ongoing struggles with the Silures. The only remains we are left with are small fragmentary pieces from everyday life- painting, for the most part, a rather rosy picture.

What other aspects of army life besides the economy can we discuss using the archaeological record?

Social aspects can be discussed, simply by looking at the physical layout of the fortress, the Roman Army made such an effort to isolate themselves, obviously this was a defensive must, but the notion of community seems to be a strong idea. The Vicus (civil settlement) surrounding the fort provides a different side of life for the men. It was here that they could meet women and raise families, gamble and socialise with traders and legionaries alike. Military pride and pride of Rome seem evident from our archaeological record, pride had to be take in the mens equipment, they had to look smart (when juxtaposed to the Welsh tribesmen, they certainly did) and the men had to replace damaged equipment, if not their pay would be stopped. There is evidence of attempts to incorporate religion into their lives, in the civic areas there were temples and religious festivals held. There is an alter to the goddess Salus (health); a small copper ram, a sign of fertility; gem engraved with the god Mercury.

To what extent can we build up a representative picture of the life and history of the fort?

Caerleon and its archaeology are a rare example of a Roman site, although it is not a completely clear picture of life (if we rely upon archaeology alone, without the use of literary sources) it presents a well rounded view of what life was like on a social and practical level like the food they ate , what they ate it from and the way their life was organised by the legion. Yet what archaeology does not make clear is the way the fort operated on a military basis, the nature of their campaigns.

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